mzmtg

iTrader: (11)

I broke out the old Car and Driver review of the 4th gen when it came out. Some quotes:

Highs:high-gloss refinement, rev-happy V-6, light-on-its-feet handling.
Lows:Styling that blends a little too well with the surroundings.
The Verdict:A delightful entusiast's car masquerading as a practical sedan.

"Driven back to back with the former SE model, the new Maxima SE does indeed feel softer overall, which may put off some entusiast drivers at first. But pick your test - emergency evasive maneuvers, fast corners or slow, smooth roads or bumpy - and there is no discernable penalty for this greater compliance. In fact, the new car stays better planted, especially at the rear, and there is noticeably less flailing about through fast right-left-right transitions."

"[the engine] responds instantly to throttle, spins up with a nicely subdued growl, and makes a perfect match with the five-speed manual gearbox that is the natural enthusiast's alternative to the four-speed autobox."

"Acceleration is sparkling. Our '95 Maxima SE scampers to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds and covers the quarter-mile in 15.3 seconds, reaching 91 mph. (The '92 ran 0 to 60 in 7.0 seconds, the quarter-mile in 15.5 seconds at 91 mph.)"

"But the quality of the Maxima's movements is perhaps more lastingly pleasing than their rapidity. The car runs with a whippet's gait, smooth and urgent, covering ground with long, easy strides, yet always willing to change direction instantly or break into a full sprint. Weighting in the steering wheel and pedals is beautifully balanced, and the car imparts an impression of great smoothness without sacrificing a sense of mechanical presence. You feel the tires and engine working, but they seem happy on the job."

That last paragraph damn near brings tears to my eyes.

And in closing they wrote:
"She's changed her style, all right, and repackaged the goods. But the moves we liked all along are even better now. This romance still has a lot of miles left in it."